Man Shot In Driveway Trying To Get Cigarette

Roy Middleton was trying to get a cigarette out of his mother’s car, when local deputies shot him. In retrospect, lying in a hospital bed, all he could think was why did that happen.

Around 2am on Saturday, Roy Middleton, 60, was seen in the driveway of his own home looking in his mother’s car for a loose cigarette. A neighbor saw him and must have mistook him for a burglar trying to break into the car, calling 911. He had been bent over in his search when he heard a voice behind him commanding him to put his hands where they could see them.

Roy Middleton initially thought someone was just joking with him and turned to see who it was, only to find it was a group of deputies standing halfway into the driveway. He did as he was told, backing out with his hands up, and as he turned around, they opened fire.

The man shot in his driveway said he felt like he was on the receiving end of a firing squad as he was shot in the leg.

A teenage girl who witnessed part of the incident said that from what she saw, Roy Middleton hadn’t done anything to antagonize the deputies. As it is, the deputies involved in the shooting from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office have been placed on paid administrative leave. The Sheriff’s Office declined to comment on the situation. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating.

Roy Middleton, the man shot in his driveway, was quoted as saying, “I’m just glad they didn’t hit me [in the head or chest]. My mother’s car is full of bullet holes though. My wife had to go and get a rental.”

Florida man (yes, he is black) shot by police in his own driveway, police decline to comment. Uh, yeah. http://t.co/pS6J6cKvS1

Updated sheriff's statement claims Mr. Middleton "spun around" and "lunged" at the deputies and of course *being in fear of danger* they shot him. But… the sheriff's office did not release any info for 2-3 days *and* the sheriff's office requested FDLE (state police) to open an investigation parallel to the sheriff's office internal review. They must suspect something went awry to request state police review right away is my guess.

I will not believe that self-serving version of events unless the deputies can provide a recording from a dash-cam or body-cam. A 60 yr old black man in Pensacola, Florida, is arguably the least likely candidate to "lunge" at two sheriff's deputies.